Trump wants to use the 'God Squad' to increase logging, but it must follow strict rules [View all]

Source: Associated Press

Trump wants to use the ‘God Squad’ to increase logging, but it must follow strict rules

By TAMMY WEBBER
Updated 4:34 PM EST, March 4, 2025

President Donald Trump wants to increase logging in national forests and on public lands, including by bypassing endangered species protections.

To do that, the federal government would have to activate a seldom-used committee nicknamed the “God Squad” because it can approve federal projects even if it leads to extinction of a species otherwise protected by the Endangered Species Act.

But experts say there are strict procedural requirements — and no provision under law to proactively use the committee to bypass protections.

Here’s what to know:

What does Trump want?

The president on Saturday signed actions to increase domestic lumber production in national forests and other public lands, directing federal agencies to look for ways to bypass protections for endangered species.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-logging-endangered-species-god-squad-5ddbbd117a480cdc60f5bc5580cd72ef